RECIPES

Hasty Gravy

There’s no need to skimp. Satisfy your gravy cravings, with or without a roast beast. You can prepare this Hasty Gravy on a whim. Alternatively, cook it in advance to supplement the meagre gravy made from your roast’s pan drippings (see Land of Plenty Gravy). Want it gluten-free? Try: Hasty Gravy (Gluten-Free). Or vegan? See: Vege-Gravy. Need an all-purpose gravy guide? Hop on My Gravy Train.

Remove from heat. While whisking vigorously, gradually add 3-1/2 cups (875 mL) warm stock, whisking until smooth after each addition. Whisk in soy sauce or worcestershire, 1 tsp (1 mL) salt and pepper. Heat, whisking often, on medium 2 minutes, or until starting to simmer and thicken. Reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer, stirring often and then constantly with whisk, 10 minutes, or until thick and glossy.

Remove from heat. Add some or all of remaining 1/2 cup (125 mL) stock to adjust thickness. (Gravy will thicken more as it cools.) Adjust salt. Add browning.

Makes 3-1/2 cups (875 mL).

This gravy tastes awesome when made with bacon fat.

Kitchen Secrets: To prevent lumpy gravy, it’s important to add stock gradually and to whisk until smoothly combined before adding more. For thicker gravy, continue to simmer until reduced as desired.

Bright Ideas: You can season the finished gravy or consider your stock options. For the latter, pre-simmer stock with 2 stalks thyme or parsley, 1 stalk rosemary or sage, or 1 large bay leaf, or infuse it with chopped onion or leftover mushroom stems. For the former, add tomato paste, barbecue sauce or Cajun spice blend; replace the soy sauce or worcestershire with a few dashes of liquid Maggi; stir in juices from the roasting pan. For the smoothest, richest, most decadent gravy, add heavy cream (35%) in place of some of the remaining 1/2 cup (125 mL) stock.

Oh No: Never cover the pan to keep your gravy warm. It will thin out if steam attacks it.

Make-Ahead: You can prepare this gravy a day or three in advance. Refrigerate it, and when the time comes, reheat in a small pan on medium-low heat, whisking occasionally, until bubbly. Or microwave it, stirring every 30 seconds.

B is for Browning: Sugar so darkly caramelized that it has lost its sweetness is sold as browning. It is used as a food colouring in everything from gravy to cake. Supermarkets sell browning.

V is for Velouté: Velouté is an essential type of French sauce. It is kin to the workhorse white sauce known as béchamel, but made with stock instead of milk/cream. Velouté means “velvety.” Surprise – gravy is a type of velouté. To make room for potential drippings, my gravy has less butter and more flour than my Velouté 101.